Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma struck back-to-back centuries before left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma claimed her maiden four-wicket haul in international cricket as India beat Zimbabwe by 121 runs in the second women's ODI at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara on Sunday, 25 October 2026, sealing the three-match series 2-0 with a game to spare.

India's Innings: A Record Fifth-Wicket Stand Powers 328/6

After choosing to bat first, India were rocked early, slipping to 19/2 inside five overs. Nomvelo Sibanda struck in the opening over, dismissing Smriti Mandhana with an ill-judged pull shot caught at short third. Sibanda then claimed a second victim when Shafali Verma (8) was caught at midwicket off a low, sharp take by Nyasha Gwanzura, a decision upheld on review.

From the wreckage, Harmanpreet and Pratika Rawal stitched a composed 124-run third-wicket partnership. Pratika struck the first six of the match off Tendai Makusha in the 10th over before completing her fifty off 57 balls. She made 61 off 67 balls before being dismissed in the 23rd over. Harmanpreet reached her fifty off 51 deliveries and moved through the innings with authority.

After Tejal Hasabnis (3) fell cheaply, Harmanpreet and Deepti shared a 153-run fifth-wicket stand — now India women's highest partnership for the fifth wicket or lower in ODIs, eclipsing the 122-run stand between Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar against Pakistan at the 2022 ODI World Cup. Harmanpreet completed her eighth ODI century off 101 balls in the 41st over with a sweep off Beloved Biza, celebrating with characteristic restraint — a quiet handshake with Deepti as the dressing room rose in ovation. She was eventually dismissed for 126 off 121 balls, including 15 boundaries, caught at long-off.

Deepti then took centre stage, reaching her second ODI hundred off just 83 balls in the final over — her first ton since 2017 — sweeping Tendai Makusha between short fine leg and square leg. She finished unbeaten on 106 off 86 balls, with 15 boundaries. Notably, the sweep shot alone fetched her 36 runs. Her 83-ball century is the fifth fastest by an India women's batter in ODIs, and she became the first Indian woman to score a hundred batting at number six or lower, surpassing Richa Ghosh's 94 against South Africa in the 2025 ODI World Cup in Visakhapatnam. India posted 328/6 in 50 overs.

Zimbabwe's Chase: Bright Start, Vaishnavi-Triggered Collapse

Zimbabwe began the chase with purpose. Modester Mupachikwa cracked two boundaries off the opening deliveries, and the Indian seamers struggled with their lines early. Mupachikwa and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano added a brisk 69 for the second wicket. N Sree Charani broke the opening stand in the ninth over, dismissing Loryn Phiri (6). Mugeri-Tiripano was then castled for 46 by Sayali Satghare in the 23rd over with an inswinging delivery.

Vaishnavi, playing in place of the rested Kranti Gaud, changed the game decisively in the middle overs. Bowling slower through the air and switching to over the wicket, she claimed Mupachikwa (49) — one short of a fifty — caught at backward point for her maiden ODI wicket. She then trapped Beloved Biza (34) lbw after India reviewed successfully, and clean-bowled Michelle Mavunga (3) with a classic flighted delivery that clipped the top of off-stump. Zimbabwe skipper Josephine Nkomo was also undone by Vaishnavi's flight, trapped lbw for 20 with the DRS unable to save her. Vaishnavi finished with impressive figures of 4-39 from 10 overs on her landmark outing.

Deepti returned in the death overs to further dismantle the lower order, trapping Nyasha Gwanzura lbw, taking an edge from Nomvelo Sibanda to slip next ball, and later dismissing Makusha with a leading edge to backward point — narrowly missing a hat-trick. Jintimani Kalita wrapped up the innings in the 49th over. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 207 in 48.5 overs, handing India a 121-run victory.

Key Performances and Records

The match was rich in milestones. Deepti's record at number six-or-lower and the fifth-wicket stand record both rewrote the India women's ODI history books on the same afternoon. Vaishnavi's maiden four-wicket haul on her way into the playing eleven underlined India's depth. Zimbabwe's fielding was hampered by injuries to Mugeri-Tiripano (right knee) and captain Nkomo, though those did not fully explain the margin — India's batting and bowling were simply dominant.

What's Next for India Women

With the series already secured, the third and final ODI will now serve as an opportunity for India to blood fringe players and experiment ahead of their next assignment. The comprehensive nature of both victories reflects a settled, in-form Indian side and augurs well for upcoming bilateral and multi-team tournaments.

Brief Scores: India 328/6 in 50 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 126, Deepti Sharma 106*; Nomvelo Sibanda 2-38, Nyasha Gwanzura 1-43) beat Zimbabwe 207 all out in 48.5 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 49, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 46; Vaishnavi Sharma 4-39, Deepti Sharma 3-32) by 121 runs.